The CBI has claimed that 12 files submitted by the coal ministry to help the agencys probe into the irregularities in the allotment of coal blocks do not contain the information that had been sought.

Much of the information in these files concern developments after the blocks were allotted while the CBI had asked for information about developments before the allotments were made,the agency has said in a report submitted to Attorney General G E Vahanvati.

The report,submitted on Monday,also lists 29 files and documents as missing or still to be submitted by the coal ministry,down from an initial figure of 225.

On Tuesday,Vahanvati wrote to the ministry informing it about the CBIs report and urged it to act on this immediately as the Supreme Court is monitoring the probe. He also quoted the Supreme Court order of August 29 directing the CBI to give the coal ministry within five days a list of documents,files and information it needs for the probe.

The ministry was in turn required to furnish the same in two weeks time. The court directed the ministry to file an FIR with the CBI if it failed to trace any of the documents sought by the agency.

Going by the consolidated list,the ministry seems to have accepted that it is unable to trace 17 files and applications – the most important among them being the report scrutinising the financial strength of applicant companies prepared by Coal India Ltd for the 35th screening committee meeting of September 13,2007.

Vahanvati has also attached with his letter the contention of the CBI on each of the missing files.

In two cases,the files submitted by the ministry related to blocks different from what had been sought. While the CBI had asked for a file relating to the Madanpur (North) block sought by Sunflag Iron & Steel Ltd.,the coal ministry submitted a file relating to the Madanpur (South) block.

Similarly,the CBI was given the application of Nandlal Enterprises for Lunsara lignite block while it had asked for the application and annexures by the same firm for the Indawar lignite block.

Also,the ministry gave the agency a file relating to the processing of the application of Adhunik Alloys & Power Ltd.,instead of the same file of Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd.

Along with this,the ministry handed over four files related to post-allotment issues involving North Dadu coal block given jointly to Adhunik Alloys & Power Ltd,Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd,Pawanjay Steel & Power Ltd and Electro Casting Ltd,and a joint venture formed by these companies.

No separate file has been made available to CBI in which application of Jharkhand Ispat Pvt. Ltd. is processed in the Ministry of Coal. Thus,the required document has not been received by the CBI, the CBI said in its report.

In another case,the coal ministry had claimed the records relating to the recommendation letters issued by (Congress MP) Vijay Darda for allocation of Bander coal block in Maharashtra to M/s AMR Iron and Steel received by ministry of coal from the PMO had been handed over to the CBI on January 28,2013.

But in its comments sent to the AG,the investigative agency noted,The relevant file is available in CBI but the letter requisitioned has not been received from the Ministry of Coal.

Similarly,while the ministry has said that it has given the file relating to the controversial minutes of the 26th screening committee meeting,the CBI note says there are no minutes of the discussions in the files.